50 Best Italian Restaurants near Wheeling

“I wanted to reach out and tell you about my son's experience with Moretti's, Emily is EXSPECTIONAL and my son Michael now hangs out Moretti's!!! Michael has told me that Emily is just so kind and always guiding him on her favorite dishes. The most important thing about Emily is she is always smiling and happy to see him :) Brandi VR“

“Saranello’s brunch buffet never fails! For a great price, you get bottomless mimosas with four different flavors. The made-to-order omelets and eggs Benedict are excellent, and the rest of the spread is huge- salads, smoked salmon, grilled veggies, and all the breakfast classics like bacon, waffles, and corned beef hash. They even have a carving station with New York steak and smoked ham. Big shoutout to our server Alani and host Isabela for the top-notch hospitality. We’ll definitely be back with friends!“

“We were in town for a convention and staying at a hotel. We decided to order a pizza our last night there. We chose Joe's at random, and we were not disappointed. Our order was delivered promptly by a very nice, and courteous person. The pizza we ordered was delicious. We loved everything about it -the thin crust, delicious sauce (not too much), and generous amount of cheese. I especially liked that the toppings were under the cheese, and there were herbs!! Kuddos to Joe's for great food and friendly service!!“

“BEST Italian food in Illinois, this place is absolutely amazing. We got the poblano soup and the rigatoni alla traverstin and it was the best pasta and soup I have ever had. I requested it to be spicy, and they made it exactly how I wanted it, it was wonderful! My husband ordered his without the spice and it was just as amazing. Also, it is very refreshing to have a restaurant where all of the waiter and waitresses have conversations with the guests, it was so great to see. We had Susanna and her sister and they were so sweet to us. They all are so hospitable and genuinely great people. We have tried many many Italian restaurants in the area, and this is by far the best one and a must try.“

“We tried the meatball & sausage sandwich. It was huge & delicious! The meatballs tasted just like mine! Staff/ owner really nice!“

“It is always a pleasure dining here. Wonderful service is always provided. Great food with large portions. The cocktails are amazing! Let’s not forget the tasty appetizers and scrumptious desserts!!! GA must try!! You will not be disappointed!!“

“Food was excellent as always and our server Moses made it extra special. Always one of my favorites!“

“From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with warm smiles and exceptional hospitality. The ambiance at Francesca’s Tavola is unmatched—classic, classy, and comfortable. The Pollo Arrosto Romana was divine—crisp skin, tender meat, and the rosemary lemon flavor was out of this world. Highly recommend!“

“Really good Italian food and ambiance!“

“Omar gave great service! Good was very good (ravioli with tomato cream). Good for kids too!“

“What a great meal and service at Pasta D'Arte Trattoria Italiana!

To start, the drinks were solid—a nicely balanced Manhattan on the rocks and generous pours on the wines by the glass. Our group of four shared the Caprese Salad and Caesar Salad, both excellent and plenty to go around.

For entrées, we enjoyed the Linguini Del Mare, Pumpkin Ravioli, Osso Buco, and Walleye Alla Piccata. Everyone loved their dishes! Note that the tomato-based sauces have a nice spicy kick from red pepper—we really enjoyed it, but if you prefer milder, I assume they can likely accommodate.

The attentive and knowledgeable service made the experience even better, guiding us through choices nicely. Free valet on a busy Saturday night was a plus as well, and the overall vibe was welcoming.

My only complaint: the place gets very noisy on a packed Saturday night, making conversation tough without raising your voice. It's that lively, bustling trattoria energy, though!
Overall, a fantastic meal and service—we'll definitely be back!“

“Tina G’s in Mundelein is truly a gem! As happy multiple visit repeat customers, we can’t say enough about the outstanding food, warm atmosphere, and the incredible people who make every visit so special. Tina and her husband, Chef Phil Gilardi, pour their hearts into every detail, from the creative and delicious dishes to the welcoming hospitality that makes you feel right at home. Dining here is always more than a meal—it’s a memorable experience filled with flavor, comfort, and joy. We can’t wait to return again and again, and we recommend Tina G’s to anyone who loves great food and genuine warmth!“

“This restaurant is beautiful inside with chandeliers and nice tables and chairs I really enjoyed the fried calamari we had as a appetizer. The Lasagna is wonderful! The cannolis are so delicious too! Antonio our server was outstanding and goes out of his way to make it a enjoyable experience. Thank you Salvatore for your kindness! I highly recommend them for a delicious dinner!“

“We ordered food for our daughter’s graduation party and it was amazing and so good! All of our guests commented how good everything was. Sandwich tray, vodka pasta and Italian beef were outstanding!“

“Our reservation was for 5pm and we walked in at 502pm. The food for both my wife and I were absolutely the best Italian food we have ever had. The price was excellent for such great quality. We will try to come at least once per month. Thank you very much for our delicious meals. We will see you soon.“

“So glad I tried and continue to enjoy Maria’s Italian Bakery and Cafe! This authentic spot offers wonderful service and excellent quality menu items— highly recommend!“

“My palette’s lack of sophistication prevents me from doing justice reviewing the menu items I enjoyed, but my belly is satisfied , and there were no leftovers; however, no matter the exquisite culinary notes I, likely, missed that a more refined pallet might’ve identified, there’s no way there was anything on a plate in the Chicago land area this evening that matched the atmosphere, service, and proud history shared by the staff and current owner, a descendant of the original owners who established the restaurant 123 years ago. A truly delightful experience that I intend to repeat as often as I’m able!“

“Amazing and now I love the tacos 🥰“

“we had a table reservation 10 people walked in what a pleasant surprise interior was nicely done our waiter was excellent ordered drinks excellent our dinner order was great food was amazing we all had different entrees very well done I can't say enough about the staff we will definitely be back“

“My favorite Italian restaurant in the northern suburbs. Great food and awesome atmosphere 👍.“

“amazing food and awesome staff!!“

“Great, authentic Italian cuisine. Never disappoints.“

“Great Food! Great Service! Always a Favorite❤️“

“Came here for Mother’s Day! Great food we each had a different dish and shared Calamari for the table. Delicious. The sauce was just like Nonna makes!“

“We celebrated Wednesday! Food and service was great! My only concern was the place is loud. It's crowded. You will definitely need a reservation! They do have Happy Hour! Parking, thank goodness, is complementary since the parking lot is small. Cheers!“

“Great food , charming atmosphere . Excellent service from Anna“

“I’ve had three parties here. The Prices are affordable and the food is absolutely delicious. Shout out to the service! every thing was phenomenal as usual!“

“Excellent service, amazing food. Gelato is incredible! :) Very nice people there, too! Will definitely return!“

“We catered for a party this past weekend and were amazed with the quality and value! The food was delicious and probably one of the best perks was that the Italian beef was given to us hot instead of in cold packs like some of the bigger chains do. We’ve always loved Tre Amici’s pizza, but had no idea their catering was so good! Highly recommend to anyone looking to cater a party!“

“We went to Washington Garden’s last night with friends hoping to enjoy some good Italian food. The food was delicious! The portions were large and the waitress couldn’t have been nicer. We will be returning soon. 🥰👍👍⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“Great service and food. 100% recommend“

“Exceptional Italian food“

“Delightful owners, excellent customer service. The best lasagna we have ever tasted. It melts in your mouth. Beyond delicious!!!!“

“The food was amazing!! I need to go back and try more of their menu.“

“One of our favorites!!! Delicious Italian food. Great portions. Julianna and Marco are the best ever. So attentive and friendly!! Courtney,one of many great servers, is the best!! Thank you Pazzi for being the best Italian Restaurant in Park Ridge ❤️“

“They had great food !! I liked their chicken with sauce on it !! Very tasty !!“

“hot oven grinders with extra hot peppers tomatoes &pickles one to eat there one to take home“

“Phenomenal food. The entire setting (dimmed lights, old school Italian color scheme) was tremendous. The food was exceptional. Looking forward to coming back.“

“Amazing!! Best food and service in town!!!“

“Very fresh ingredients. All entrees have exceptional flavor and presentation. Cocktails are well made. Classy ambiance. Attentive service.“

“Gianni’s is amazing, best food around. 10/10 highly recommend“

“Great place to have Italian food 😊“

“We had appetizers which were delicious! The place was packed! Our waitress was so great! Everyone who worked there seemed to love what they do! Speaks volumes for the owner! We will be back!“

“Ironically I ran into the owner during a Lyft ride and he was my driver. So two weeks later I try the food and it's out of this world. He specifically told me he uses the finest, freshest, high quality ingredients-which is apparent when you try the food. No seed oils here either! I would highly recommend this establishment and we will be back soon! Thanks again!“

“Wow, I’m still impressed after our visit! 😍 We recently moved to the area and I think we’ve already found our new favorite Italian spot 🍝✨ It honestly reminded us of the amazing meals we had back in Italy 🇮🇹 My husband booked a table for a lunch date, and we were pleasantly surprised by how cozy and intimate the place felt 💕

The atmosphere was charming, though I can see how it might feel a bit tight for some since the tables are placed quite close together 🤏 But personally, we didn’t mind at all-in fact, it added to the lively vibe! At one point, the people sitting next to us even asked what we ordered because our food looked and smelled so good 🤭

I’m a big seafood lover, so I tried the Seafood Diavolo, and it was absolutely delicious 🔥🦞 The spice level was just right, and the pasta was cooked perfectly, loaded with lobster and a mix of fresh seafood 😋 I’m already excited to come back and explore more dishes from their menu. Definitely a place worth returning to again and again! 💯“

“I lived overseas for a number of years and came back after Covid only to find my go-to pizza spots had all closed. I spent the next three years chasing that real Chicago stuffed-crust fix and kept coming up disappointed.

Then, on my birthday today, I finally found the place that fills the void.

The sauce is robust, the cheese is generous, and the crust is exactly what you want from a quality Chicago stuffed crust pizza. Hands down, it’s the best stuffed crust I’ve had in Illinois in over 10 years, and the price is better than Lou Malnati’s (bland) and Giordano’s (#2 stuffed crust in il IMO, but far away from my location).

Great value for the money, and the people here are genuinely nice. First visit, and now loyal customer now.“

“Great food and even better customer service. We ordered food for delivery and Grub Hub only delivered our pastries, not our dinners. When I called Sorelle, the manager apologized and said he would bring us our food. It is so rare these days to have that kind of service and we were so appreciative. We will definitely be return customers!“

“We went on a very busy Saturday night. The service was outstanding.
The wait staff took great care of us. We had a great meal, cooked exactly as ordered. We will definitely be going back here again. I highly recommend this restaurant. They also have multiple rooms for private parties, good to know!“

“😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋“